For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 26, 2017
Montgomery County Councilmember
Sidney Katz to Host Free
Senior Forum and Resource Fair on
Friday, October 27, at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg
State’s Attorney John McCarthy,
Consumer Protection Director Eric Friedman,
and Volunteer Center Senior Fellow/Program Manager Gretchen Zekiel
to be among speakers
ROCKVILLE, Md., October 26, 2017—Montgomery County Councilmember Sidney Katz, who represents Council District 3, which includes Gaithersburg, Rockville, Washington Grove, Leisure World and parts of Aspen Hill, Derwood, North Potomac and Potomac, will host a Senior Forum and Resource Fair at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park starting at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 27. The program will focus on recognizing the signs of elder abuse, protecting seniors from scams, and ways for seniors to live life to the fullest through volunteering. It will be accompanied by an informational resource fair showcasing a wide range of service providers to seniors.
The Activity Center at Bohrer Park is located at 506 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg, Md.
The Senior Forum and resource fair are free and open to the public. The resource fair will open at 9:30 a.m., with speakers beginning at 10 a.m. Residents do not have to be a member of the Activity Center at Bohrer Park to attend.
Councilmember Katz, the former Mayor of Gaithersburg, serves on the Public Safety (PS) Committee as its lead member for Behavioral Health in the Justice System. The PS Committee has jurisdiction over the County’s consumer protection programs and public safety issues affecting seniors. Councilmember Katz’s district includes the City of Gaithersburg.
“After hosting several very successful Senior Forums, we are excited to be holding another one for our seniors in and around the City of Gaithersburg,” said Councilmember Katz. “We know that stopping senior abuse, avoiding scams, and leading a fulfilling life are issues of great interest to seniors, and that is why we are pleased to yet again bring together our County’s leading experts in these fields. It is our hope with this forum that our seniors will receive timely and relevant information and see the community resources available so they can continue to live safe, full and enriching lives.”
The following experts will be speaking starting at 10 a.m.:
• John McCarthy, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney
• Eric Friedman, director of the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection
• Gretchen Zekiel, Senior Fellow/Program Manager, 50+ Volunteer Network, Montgomery County Volunteer Center
At the resource fair, representatives from community-serving organizations will have information and materials for forum attendees. Organizations confirmed to be in attendance include:
• Aspire Counseling
• City of Gaithersburg, Benjamin Gaither Center (formerly Gaithersburg Upcounty Senior Center)
• Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County
• EveryMind
• Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse
• Jewish Social Service Agency
• Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition
• Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
• Montgomery College Lifelong Learning Institute
• Montgomery County Board of Elections
• Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Aging & Disability Services
• Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service
• Montgomery County Public Libraries
• Montgomery County Recreation
• Montgomery County Police Department, Keeping Seniors Safe
• Montgomery County State’s Attorney
• Montgomery County Volunteer Center, 50+ Volunteer Network
• NAMI Montgomery County
• Rockville Senior Center
• Senior Connection
• The Village at Rockville
For more information on the forum, contact Mary Gies in the Office of Councilmember Katz at 240-777-7817 or at mary.gies@montgomerycountymd.gov .
# # # # Release ID: 17-331